‘I was a new guy with no hits’: As Emraan Hashmi’s Gangster completes 20 years, Pritam shares how he joined the film as a music composer

Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut’s Gangster has clocked 20 years today, April 28. The film, directed by Anurag Basu, also featured Shiney Ahuja in a key role. When the romantic thriller hit the silver screens back at that time, no one knew it would turn out to be one of the biggest hits. The credit goes to the cast’s remarkable performances, a gritty storyline and of course, a melodious album that resonates with listeners even today. As Gangster completes 2 decades, Pritam, the film’s lead music composer, has opened up about how he was roped into the project.

Pritam, in a recent interview with The Indian Express’ Screen, revealed that when he started working with Anurag Basu for Gangster, he was fairly new to the industry. Before Gangster, Pritam’s only success was Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), which he co-composed with Jeet Gannguli.

Pritam on working in Gangster

Pritam shared that he had previously worked with Anurag Basu in television. Although the director wanted Pritam to collaborate with Vishesh Films, Gangster’s production company, the music composer admitted that times were different back then and it was difficult. But Anurag managed to tell Mukesh Bhatt, the movie’s producer, that he wanted to work with Pritam.

After that, Pritam played a tune of the iconic Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai to Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt and they were apparently impressed with him, welcoming the composer on board. Later, Anurag Basu, who lived in the same building as Pritam, also narrated the script of Metro In Dino to Pritam. ‘I got very excited because anthology films were new back then,’ admitted the music composer.

Pritam on KK and Zubeen Garg

Pritam also recalled the tragic death of singers KK and Zubeen Garg, both integral to Gangster and the music industry. The music composer told the media outlet that he had worked with KK a lot more than Zubeen, but the latter was also a close friend of his at that time. ‘I used to regularly visit his house in PMGP Colony, Andheri East, where a lot of Assamese used to stay,’ remembered Pritam. He said that Zubeen was ‘very excited’ for the track Ya Ali because Anurag Basu decided to shoot his music video too.

Gangster revolves around a complex love triangle between a notorious gangster, his lonely girlfriend, and a secret agent. Cemtering around themes of love, betrayal and redemption. It follows the story of Simran (Kangana Ranaut), a lonely woman living in Seoul who falls in love with a singer, Akash (Emraan Hashmi) but finds herself in a spot when her ex-partner, a gangster named Daya (Shiney Ahuja), re-enters her life.